An Eye-opening day

Today was another busy day!  We left at 9a and got back to the hotel at 7p! We went back to La Esperanza to finish packing the backpacks with the few supplies that we didn’t have last time.  We even got some help from some of their volunteers.  One was from Massachusetts, and the others are from ALL over!  We got those bags all packed and sorted, and then it was off to the Lagoon de Apoyo for some rest and relaxation!  It was a pretty decent sized lake formed in a crater.  The water was pretty warm too!  The resort that we ate at had a pool as well, but it was pretty nasty.  We decided to stick to the lake.  By the time we got back to La Esperanza, I felt my sunburn… ouch! It was bound to happen anyway.  We then went with a couple of people from Holland that are running a for profit/non profit organization.  It is Hotel con Corazon (hotel with heart).  All the profit from the hotel goes to running a couple schools.  They are schools that are out in the rural areas on Nicaragua.  

It was amazing to see the shacks that these people were in.  Most of the outhouses I have seen are better then them.  There would be whole families living in shacks the size of my bedroom.  The walls were slabs of wood that weren’t even joined together.  I wasn’t prepared for how poor they were in this area. It made me think of how much we quantify our life in the US by what we own.  These people have nearly nothing and still have a life.  A life that they are happy in.  They don’t need to have the latest phone or computer.  They don’t need to have designer clothes.  They are content with what they have.  I do wonder if any of the kids ever wonder how they can escape where they live.  US kids are always trying to move out of their hometown.  I just wonder if our Southern counterparts think the same way?  Do they want to change their status? I really don’t know.  One of the kids at the market yesterday talked about going to Brazil.  Maybe they do try for more after all.  Maybe with what we give them they can achieve those goals.  There are hardships with getting these kids to school.  Parents aren’t always huge supporters.  Some of the organizations are trying to get parents behind the students to help increase retention and help the kids want to learn.  That I think is the main obstacle in these countries.  Parents may not see a need for an education, and that attitude is seen by the children, and why should they when it just means so much more work for them.  They would have to do this work anyway, why add more?  That might also keep them from desiring more in life.  They may be too busy to think about it. If the school is able to get the parents backing, then the success of the child is going to be better.  The same goes for the US children.  Kids without parental assistance usually have a harder time then those that have “nagging” parents.  Maybe parents are a good thing!